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E. HEDENSKOOG.

BALL RACK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. Z7 i919. Patented Deo. 9,1919.

E. HEDENSKOOG.

BALL RACK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.27,1919.

Lll, l Patented. Dee. 9,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- lip@ I f my ERNEST HEDENSKGOG, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN.

BALL-RACK.

inserire.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patenteanee. e, raie.

VApplication filed February 27, 1919. Serial No. 279,546.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, Ennnsfr HnDnNsKooG, a citizen oit the United States, residing in Muskegon, in the county oit Muskegon and tats ot Michigan, have invented a new and useful improvement in Ball-Racks, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention. relates in general to ball racks and has more particular reference to ball racks provided ttor use in connection with pocket billiard tables and the like.

Prior to my invention it has been frequently the custom in playing' pocket billiards and other games ot like character to removethe balls of the several players from the pockets of the billiard table and Vplace them in a rack formed of a plurality oit horizontal shelves :tor the purpose of scoring, each player selecting a shelf and placing thereon the balls pocketed by him. The use of such a rack as this requires that when the balls are to be replaced on the table they be li'tted out singly and in twos `and threes by an attendant or by the players and either carried to the table and deposited in a rackingtriangle or requires them to be deposited in a basket or other receptacle as they are taken thus from the shelves. Eitheroperation consumes considerable time and mate- Vrially delays the play.

lt is a principal object of this invention to provide a commercial and practical ball rack from which the balls of the several players may be' quickly discharged into a basket or other receptacle for replacement on the table. l am aware that numerous attempts have been made to construct racks that will automatically deliver the balls but these have proven impractical in use and to be the cause of considerable annoyance and expense to such an extent that practically the only ball rack in use today is the simple shelt rack earlier described. In some instances these automatic racks have required that the balls tall considerable distances, ultimately damaging them; and in others the arrangement has been such that thedischarging of the balls has required Vthe provision ot' such complicated and easily dis-` arranged relatively rnoving parts that they are expensive to construct and operate and their periods or use short. By reason of the tact that devices of this character are usually used in public billiard rooms where they are subject to rough usage and considerable abuse, it is necessary in a commercially practical device that they consist of.

few, simple and readily operated parts.

Principal objects of this invention areto provide a ball rack of the simplest possible construption, which may be quickly and easily operated (operation being to merely place a basket in suitable position and press a button) to provide a ball rack which will quickly deliver the balls without damage to them; to provide a rack which willnot permit the accumulation of dust or dirt and which will therefore not require cleaning; to `provide aV rack of unusually sturdy construction and capable of being operated by any unskilled attendant or player without the necessity of providing special instructions or directions for the purpose.

Numerous other objects and advantages ot the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the followingl description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof.

On the drawing, e

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a ball rack embodying my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a substantially vertical sectional view from front to back of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view of a ball rack showing 4certain details ot construction; and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line iwi of Fig. 3. r

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown on the drawing a rack in which it is embodied. This rack comprises a casing consisting of a suitably constructed head or top 11, vertical central rails 12, ond rails 13, an inclosed lower portion 11i and a lower basket supporting shelf 15. The rails 12 and 13 are secured at their tops to a suitable member 16 ofthe head. The rails l?) extend all the way from the member 1,6 down to the shelf 15 and to them this shell? is fastened. The rails 1Q are 'fastened at their' front to the front member otl the lower portion 1a and at their rear to a cross piece 17. The rails 12 and 13 provide spaces he'- tween them to' receive the halls in Lamvity columns, as indicated in dotted line -a Fig. 2. The rails 12 andll -are provided with l. A rack :for pocket billiard ballsucom-V prising a casing providing a plurality oi' "upright inclined ballreceivingchannels for holding the balls in gravity columns.

2. A rack for pocket billiard balls comprising a casing providing j upwardly and rearwardly inclined channels for holding the balls in gravity columns and providing also downwardly and inwardly inclined `channels opening into the iii-st mentioned chanels to permit insertion of the balls into said first mentioned channels.

3. A rack for pocketbilliard balls comprisingY in combination a casing having a series or' upright membersproviding chann nels in Which `the balls are Varrangeable in gravity columns, horizontally slidable supporting means lor supporting said columns` of balls, and means for directing the balls from all of the columns into a basket or other receptacle.

4,. A rack for pocket billiard balls comprising in combination a casing having a series 'of upright members providing channels in ivhichlthe balls are arrangeable in gravity columns, horizontally slidable supporting means tor supporting said columns of balls, and means for directing the balls from all the columns into a basket or other receptacle, movement of said supporting means from normal position permitting immediate and simultaneous delivery of all the balls of all the columns.v

5. A rack for pocket billiard balls comprising in combination a casing having a series of upright members providing chan` nels in which the balls are arrangeable in gravity columns, a. common support for said columns-ot balls, and a. manipulative device engagea-riale by the operator for releasing all the balls in said columns simultaneously, said device being protected against inadvertent manipulation by casing parts.

6. A `ack for pocket billiard balls comprising in combination a casing having aV series oi" upright members providing channels in which the balls are arrangeable in gravity columns, a common support for said columns of balls, and a manipulative device engageable b v the operator for releasing all the balls in said columns siimiltaneously.A

@D ma porting` said columns, and a push button for `moving said member from supporting posi tion to permit discharge of all the balls in allthe columns.

8. A rack for pocket billiard balls comprising in combination a casing having a series of upright members forming channels in which the balls are arra-ngeable in gravity col mns, a horizontally reciprocating member beneath said channels for supporting said columns, a push button for roving said member from supporting position to permit discharge of all th balls in all the columns, and yielding means l'or returning said member to normal column supporting position.

9. A ball rack, coniprising a casing providing a plurality o vertical spaces for receiving thefballs in gravity columns, a support for a basket therebeneath, an inclosed guiding part for directing the balls out ot the columns and into the basket, said in- Closed part being interrupted centrally to accommodate the handle of thel basket.

10. A ball rack, comprising a plurality ol upright rails defining spaces for holdin g the balls in gravity columns, means for supporting said balls and releasing them to permit them to drop into a basket, and means for centering the basket with the handle beneath one of said rails to'prevent the balls entering the basket from hitting the handle.

ll. ri ball rack, comprising a casing providing spaces for holding the balls in gravity column, a retractable support for the balls therebeneath, the bottom of said casing being open and adapted to direct the balls into a basket and an operating member for said retractable support operable by the hand of an operator moving the basket into.

position.

l2. A rack for pocket billiard balls comprising in combination a casing having a series o't upright members providing channels in which the balls are arrangeable in gravity columns, a retractable support beneath'said columns and means for manipula-ting said support to release all the balls in said columns said means comprising a push member, and an elongated bearing therefor disposed within said push member.

13. A rack for pocket billiard balls comprising in combination a casing having a series o't upright members providing channels in which the balls are arrangeable in gravity columns, a retractable support beneath said columns, and means 'tor manipulating said support to release all the balls in said columns, said means comprising a pair of telescoping parts one movable and the other lixed, and a spring for moving the movable part back to normal position.

14. A rack Vfor pocket billiard balls comprising in combination a casing having a series of upright members providing channels in which tbe balls are arrangeable in gravity eolmnns, a retractable support beneatli said columns, and means for manipulat-ing said support to release all the balls in said columns, said means comprising a pair oi' teleseoping parts one movable and the other lined, and a spring 'for moving,- the movable part back to normal position, and a stop sleeve on the moving part for stopping movement of the support when it is returned to normal position.

l5. A rack foi' pocket billiard balls Comprising in Combination a easing having a series of substantially upright members providing` channels in which the `balls are arrangeable in Lgravity columns, movable snpy porting means for sustaining all of said eolumms of balls, means :l'or directing the balls from all of said columns into a receptacle When said supporting means is removed, and

means arranged substantially in line above the point el: delivery of said directing means tor operating' said supporting means.

16. A raek for poelet billiard balls comprising in combination a easing having a series of substantially upright members providing channels in which the balls are arf langeable in gravity columns, movable snpporting means Yfor snstaining,v all of said Columns of balls, means for directing the balls from all of said columns into a receptaele when said supporting' means is removed, operating means arranged substantially in line above the point of delivery of said directing means for moving; said supporting means to release tlie balls, and oasing parts which protect said operating means against accidental actuation.

ERNEST HEDENSOOG. 

